Newcastle's Hugh Vyvyan was on a high last night after being handed the England captaincy for next week's Churchill Cup in Canada and the USA and also the trip to Japan.

Newcastle's Hugh Vyvyan was on a high last night after being handed the England captaincy for next week's Churchill Cup in Canada and the USA and also the trip to Japan.

The 26-year-old lock will become the second Falcons player to captain England this season after fly-half Jonny Wilkinson led the national side in the RBS Six Nations clash with Italy.

Vyvyan, who has been outstanding at No 8 for the Falcons this season, was selected for the two-week tournament with Canada and the USA in Vancouver last week, also with Newcastle team-mate Dave Walder, but now he has been told he will also lead England.

Vyvyan, one of seven rugby-playing brothers who grew up in Cornwall, said: "It's a great honour and I am very much looking forward to leading England in what will be a tough competition. I am excited about the squad and also working with Jim Mallinder and Steve Diamond who have done an excellent job with Sale Sharks this season."

England, who fly out to Vancouver on Friday, play Canada and the US Eagles in The Thunderbird Stadium on June 14 and 21 respectively before a potential Churchill Cup final on June 28. They then travel to Tokyo to play a Japan Select XV on July 3 and Japan on July 6 at the Ajinamato Stadium.

"Canada and the United States will be using the Churchill Cup as preparation for the World Cup," added Vyvyan.

"Japan are capable of producing some attractive rugby and all three countries will be massively up for playing us."

Vyvyan has won England A caps against Scotland and Ireland and was on the bench for England's test in Argentina last summer after leading the midweek side in the 29-24 defeat by the Pumas A team. Meanwhile, Vyvyan's Falcons team-mate Phil Dowson is in the England squad for the Emirates Airlines London Sevens that kicks off at Twickenham on Friday, while lock Geoffrey Parling and back row Ben Woods have been named in the England squad for the Under-21 World Cup.

Tynedale centre Paul Boston is also in the Scotland Squad for the tournament on June 13-29 in Oxfordshire along with Falcons duo Phil Godman and Mark Rennie plus Borders pair Gareth Morton and Nikki Walker.